Two recent claims go in feature
SANTA ROSA, Calif. - Two recent claims by trainer Lloyd Mason run in Friday's Sonoma County Fair feature, a $25,000 optional claimer for 3-year-olds at a mile on the turf.
One is turf specialist Crowd's Choice, who has been off since being claimed for $16,000 from a Juneo2 victory at Golden Gate Fields.
The other, Include Charlie, will make his third start since being claimed for $62,500 at Hollywood Park on May 17.
"I think he runs equally as well on grass as he does on dirt," said Mason, who has started Include Charlie once on each surface.
Include Charlie unleashed a strong late kick to finish fourth in a one-mile turf allowance at Golden Gate Fields on June 10. He sat closer early and hung a bit late when second in a $25,000 optional claimer on the main track at Pleasanton on June 28.
"If this race had come up on dirt, I would have run him there," Mason said.
Not so with Crowd's Choice. Both of his victories are on turf, and he has a second-place finish on grass, too.
"The owner was the one who picked him out and claimed him," Mason said of Crowd's Choice. "He liked the way he ran on the turf."
Crowd's Choice's new owners, Ed and Theresa DeNike, must have liked the way Crowd's Choice ran the day they claimed him. He took the lead on the backstretch and maintained his advantage the rest of the way.
"When he won that day on turf, he looked really good," Mason said.
The performance convinced Mason that Crowd's Choice should stay on the turf.
The uncoupled Mason entry will face tough competition. Several runners who like the lead will be going at it from the instant the gate opens.
Mr. Negotiator, trying two turns for the first time, breaks from the rail. Reckless Wind beat Crowd's Choice two back with a wire-to-wire trip.
Include Charlie, I'monmy-wayhome and Running Rich will make runs late.
o The guests scheduled for Santa Rosa's popular handicapping seminars this weekend are trainer Greg Gilchrist on Friday, jockey Russell Baze on Saturday, and owner Bob Bone on Sunday. The seminars begin at 11:15 a.m. at the Park Stage next to the track.